Provide journalists 45 pc dearness allowance: Govt -The Asian Age

The government has directed all the news media, including print media and news agencies, to provide dearness allowance to their staff, including journalists and other employees, under the 9th wage board.

The Information Ministry issued a notification yesterday (Tuesday) directing the news media to pay 45 percent of the main salary of media staff and journalists as dearness allowance. The notification said the order will come into effect from March 1 of this year. The interim benefit will be adjusted with the salary structure later.

State Minister for Information, Tarana Halim, sought cooperation of all news media in implementation of the directive. Besides, she said that the Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina would distribute financial aid to the journalists in financial hardship and to the families of dead and sick journalists at her office (PMO) on September 19. The aid will be provided from the government grants, she said.